Texting at meals: Usually *really* not cool

“Husbands, wives, children and dinner guests who would never be so rude as to talk on a phone at the family table seem to think it’s perfectly fine to text,” the New York Times reports. A therapist told the Times that texting while eating has become a major topic between spouses in marital counseling. It’s as if the issue – for old and young cellphone users alike – is sound levels rather than attention to the people present. One dad admitted that, though he never texted at the table, he did read emails. “A few months ago, a family meeting was convened. The … 7-year-old twin daughters made their feelings known. Their father agreed to cease using his iPhone during dinner” and told the Times he was 95% there. The Times adds that, among adults, men are the worst mealtime phone users, while among teens, girls are). [See also “House rules for teen texting” and “Cellphone etiquette.”]